Thursday, August 20, 2009

Kick off to Kindergarten: The Night Before Kindergarten

We are avid readers in this house, and our book shelf is filled with a little of everything. When any new experience comes up, we try our best to find a book that explains it to our son. Reading about new places and new experiences usually helps to calm his fears.

We recently had the chance to read The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing. The book follows kids as they get ready for school, head off for their first day, and find out what the classroom is really like.Set to the rhythm of The Night Before Christmas, the story is easy to read, and held my 5 year old's attention very well. While reading it together, he continually asked questions, allowing me to understand some of his worries about starting school. Once I finished reading, he asked me to read it again.

We spent almost an hour reading the book together, answering questions, and talking about what school will be like. Each time the story ended, he got so excited at the last page:

The children all wavedfrom the door of the school."Don't cry, Mom and Dad;kindergarten is cool!"

He asked if I would be lonely without him here, if kindergarten was really that fun, if I would be there to get him at the end of the day. The Night Before Kindergarten is truly a great way to open up communication with your little one. It lets them bring up any questions they may have.

Wing has also written many other Night Before books, including The Night Before Summer Vacation, The Night Before Halloween, and The Night Before First Grade, among others. She has also authored Go to Bed, Monster!, An Eye for Color, and Jalapeno Bagels. You can see a full list of her books over at her site.

Win it!I have a copy of The Night Before Kindergarten to giveaway to one lucky reader.

To enter:Check out Natasha Wing's site and let me know one book you'd like to read (besides the one I'm giving away). And leave a way to contact you!Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)